..The next day arrived swiftly, and Elena, as planned, came by in the evening to pick Landon up. The moment Landon settled into the car, Elena’s attention was drawn to the small bag he was holding.“What’s that?” she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.“Oh, this?” Landon glanced down at the small bag in his hand and smiled. “It’s a gift I managed to put together for your dad. You didn’t give me much notice, so I didn’t have time to come up with something elaborate. I just hope he can make do with this.”Elena’s face brightened into a smile. “You didn’t have to, really. We could have just shared the gift I got him.”“Well,” Landon replied, still smiling, “at least now we won’t have to share. We can each give him our own gifts. It’s always better that way, don’t you think?”Elena giggled softly at his remark and nodded. “You’re right. Alright, let’s get going.”Both of them fastened their seatbelts, and soon after, they were on the road, heading toward her family home. About twenty
. . “Why are you calling him a loser, Mom?” Elena couldn’t comprehend why her mother would make such a rude and insensitive remark about someone she didn’t even know well. “Do you really need to ask me that, Elena? His answer to my question made everything clear,” Kathy’s voice dripped with disdain as she spoke. “He’s an orphan, raised by a simple, hardworking family. Clearly, he’s not from wealth or status. How can someone like that take our family to the next level? He’s just not suitable for you!” Kathy’s teeth were clenched in frustration as she struggled to keep her voice from escalating into a full-blown shout. Elena felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. She shook her head and sighed deeply. “Mom, you can’t just judge a book by its cover all the time. There’s so much more to people than what you see at first glance.” Elena knew, deep down, that if Kathy ever found out about Landon’s true identity as the owner of the powerful and influential Grey Group, she would fall
. . “Who are you calling trash? How dare you call me trash! Do you even know who I am?!” Daniel retaliated, his voice rising with indignation. He was clearly displeased and couldn’t believe someone would dare to insult him in such a manner. Landon raised an eyebrow at that very moment and replied calmly, “Oh, so it’s offensive when I call you trash, but it’s perfectly fine when you call me a nobody, right? How does that make sense?” “Weren’t you a nobody to begin with?!” Diana interjected, her voice dripping with disdain as she shot a glare in Landon’s direction. “Do you even realize that Daniel is an Owen?” “And so what if he’s an Owen?” Landon shot back without missing a beat. “In my eyes, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s nothing but trash.” His tone was filled with arrogance, and he didn’t bother to hide it. “Hey, you better know your place,” Riley chimed in, glaring at Landon like he was some fool who had no idea of the consequences. “You’re talking to an Owen here. One w
. . "Happy birthday once again, Minister Wilson," Daniel said as he smiled and extended his hand for a firm handshake, wishing the minister a heartfelt birthday greeting. "God bless you, my boy," Minister Wilson responded with a warm smile, his hand resting briefly on Daniel’s shoulder as they shook hands, exuding the kind of warmth only a seasoned statesman could offer. After Daniel finished exchanging pleasantries with the two influential men, he made his way back to where Riley, Diana, and Gideon were waiting for him. Their faces beamed with admiration, eager to praise him for his accomplishment. “Wow, Daniel, you are absolutely incredible,” Diana gushed, her eyes gleaming with admiration. In her mind, she couldn’t help but wish she could be with someone like Daniel—a man of power, status, and influence. "Yeah, I completely agree with Diana," Riley chimed in enthusiastically, his eyes wide with respect. "To shake hands with Silas Katz is no small feat. I work in Grey Group mys
. . "What kind of tea costs 2.4 million dollars?" one of the guests murmured in disbelief. "I have no idea, but it's clearly the most extravagant gift of the night, by far..." another replied, equally stunned. "Who is this Landon King, anyway? How can he afford such luxury, even outshining the likes of Silas Katz and Daniel Owen with their gifts?" a third voice joined the conversation, echoing the sentiment that seemed to ripple through the crowd like a wave of astonishment. The entire room buzzed with speculation, shock etched on every face. Heads swiveled, eyes scanning the elegant venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of this mysterious figure who had just gifted Minister Wilson a tea worth a staggering 2.4 million dollars. It was the talk of the evening, overshadowing all other presents offered at the grand celebration. However, among the sea of curious faces, there were a select few who didn’t need to search the crowd—they knew exactly who Landon King was. “How is he able to affo
. . “H-He’s the owner of Grey Group?” Kathy stammered, her disbelief evident. Her eyes widened as she stared at Landon, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. “Yes, that’s correct,” Minister Wilson confirmed with a nod, turning to face Kathy with a smile. “This young man right here is indeed the owner of Grey Group.” His voice was filled with a mixture of pride and respect as he spoke, making it clear how much weight Landon’s position held in his eyes. Kathy blinked, still trying to process the information. It was so unexpected, so shocking. She had never imagined that the young man she once considered insignificant would turn out to be the most important person in the room. "Mr. King, I am truly honored to have you as a guest at my birthday celebration," Minister Wilson continued, his tone filled with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much for the incredibly generous gift." Once again, he bowed deeply toward Landon, an extraordinary gesture that took the entire room by surpr
. . Landon had not intended to reveal his true identity in such a public and dramatic manner, but circumstances had left him little choice. He had his reasons for making such a bold move. Ever since his face had been exposed during his confrontation with Carolyn, he knew it was only a matter of time before it became widely known. There was no stopping the spread of the truth once it began to unravel. Understanding the inevitable, Landon decided that there was no point in continuing to keep his status as a person of considerable power and influence hidden. Instead, he planned to use this revelation to his advantage, sending a subtle yet unmistakable message to all his enemies—both known and hidden—encouraging them to come out of the shadows and seek him out directly. In fact, he was hoping they would. Let them come. He was ready for whatever they threw at him. However, there was one aspect of this sudden public exposure that he hadn’t fully considered—the situation involving Ele
..In the very heart of Autumnvale Town, an enormous arena had been erected, towering like a testament to the power and influence of those who built it. No, it was more than just an arena—it was a monumental stage, an imposing coliseum that dominated the town center. Its grandiosity left the spectators in awe. The guests, seated comfortably in their designated areas, could hardly believe that such a massive structure had been constructed so quickly. Just seven days prior, there was no sign of this massive arena. The open space where it now stood had been empty, untouched, and utterly ordinary.It was only after the prestigious Golden Zeus himself appeared and announced that the competition would be held in Autumnvale that the construction began in earnest. The feat was nothing short of miraculous. Typically, a project of this scale would have taken several months, perhaps even years if the pace was leisurely. Yet, the Martial Arts Alliance of the South had accomplished the seemingly